CHAIRMAN of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Mr. Gerry Gouveia, has said there is good public/private coordination and partnership ongoing in Guyana.

Noting that such collaboration is unprecedented, he pointed out that the Private Sector is positioned in almost every sphere of operations.

Gouveia attested that the Private Sector is represented on boards and committees that are dealing with security, energy, infrastructure and education and its views are being taken into consideration.

He said this has been ongoing throughout the development of the country, which will continue successfully if the current collaborating is maintained.

“The communication and relationship between the Government and the Private Sector needs to continue in a big way,” Gouveia remarked.

Meanwhile, he lauded the work of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

“I have seen the Police make an effort. There are issues yes but these are isolated cases. Generally, when it comes to security, Guyana has moved up and the Private Sector is encouraged by this,” Gouveia stated.

He, however, called for assistance from Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company (GT&T) with technical issues affecting the efficiency of the 911 emergency service.

Gouveia said a first hand look at the 911 operations points directly to the fact that its inefficiency is not a result of human resources but of technicalities with which the communication company could assist.

“I think it is a technical problem and GT&T needs to work harder to resolve it,” he concluded.

Gouveia said, too, that the rapid response capabilities of the GPF and Guyana Fire Services (GFS), two entities which directly affect the successful continuity of business operations, have to be developed.

LOOKING FORWARD

Meantime, he said the Private Sector is looking forward to 2010, although President Bharrat Jagdeo, earlier this month, alluded to an economic shock that might hit the country.

Stating that the PSC is hoping otherwise, he observed: “Guyana has been relatively untouched by the global economic crisis and a lot of our businesses that are suffering from economic hard times are our own doing. It is our own lack of innovation, our own lack of determination and aggressiveness.”

He acknowledged that, individually, much more can be done to improve businesses in Guyana. For example, the drafting of business plans for 2010 should be done considering all parameters.

“There is forward movement in the country and the PSC hopes this continues. Even though, economically, we are going not as fast as we want, the spirit of the Private Sector is a good one,” Gouveia said.

He agreed, though, that there are some issues to be worked out, like the new restrictions, issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, on the movement of heavy duty vehicles so as to minimise traffic congestion.

“While this is a move that we understand there was need for more consultation with the Private Sector. This would have assisted us to plan logistics,” Gouveia said. (Vanessa Narine)